BIG BEAR LAKE IS WAY DOWN THIS YEAR

For the first time ever, I was able to walk on the other side of Boulder Bay because of how much shoreline is present now.  I realized with a little more melt of the snow i could have walked the shoreline to the opposite side of the lake.  

These are from March when i was last up there.  Hoping for another trip around Wednesday or Thursday to see if any wildflowers are blooming.

I've never been able to get close to those big rock formations of the cabins.  Finally I was able to walk right by them.  Next time I should be able to walk on the shore all the way to the other side of the lake way in the background.  Everything will be melted by now.

BEAUTIFUL BIG BEAR LAKE - STANFIELD MARSH

Yesterday we went up to Big Bear Lake and spent time enjoying the great weather.  One of my favorite places to walk is the footbridge over what is called Stanfield Marsh - it is separate from the lake itself as a road divides the marsh from the lake.  The only time the marsh has water is if there has been a wet winter.  Usually by fall the marsh is pretty much dried up. 

So in the photos are two men on a bench, a family enjoying themselves all with masks on and of course the pelicans.   

We found the sign interesting about no vehicles on bottom of lake interesting. 

Altitude of Big bear is between 6500 and 9000 feet (I just learned that today after looking it up).

I never enjoyed watching kids play as much as I have when we are out walking these days.  I'm so glad they have areas like this to get out and  just play and explore their surroundings.  A lot of the mountain homes are built on hills with really no yards and there aren't a lot of parks so the shorelines are the playgrounds up here in the mountains

A WEEK LATER - ANOTHER SUNDAY IN BIG BEAR

We went back to Big Bear lake yesterday and found some different areas to walk - but we still eventually ended up at the footbridge.  I was surprised how quickly the water is drying up and can only hope that in winter there will be enough snow  and rain in the spring to fill Stanfield Marsh up again. 

The pelicans were still there and I had fun (from very far away) photographing these two guys who were out enjoying the pelicans. 

The white structure on the shoreline is Big Bear Solar Observatory. 

Here is what is written about it.

Big Bear Solar Observatory is the premier university-based solar observatory in the United States. It is operated by New Jersey Institute of Technology. BBSO features the most powerful solar telescope in the world – the 1.6 m clear aperture Goode Solar Telescope, which has no obscuration in the optical train

We also found a different part of the lake to enjoy the views and we hadn't walked this area before.  Next time we go up which will be soon - I'll have some other areas mapped out in my mind to go see. 

The observatory and below some different views of the lake from a different marina area.